#atropoides

[exotic-venom]

(Atropoides nummifer) Jumping pit viper

Mainly hemotoxic. Found in rainforests, forested hills, and adjacent cleared areas or plantations in Mexico and Central America. May strike at intruders with such force that they throw their whole body off the ground. When very frightened, they sometimes will flail about trying to strike wildly and quickly, turning to keep the threat in sight.

[herpskeepers]

Mexican jumping pitviper (Atropoides nummifer) feeding on a bat.

Credit: Miguel Angel De La Torre

> For more pics, videos & articles visit: herpkeepers.com

[exotic-venom]

(Atropoides nummifer occiduus) Guatemalan jumping pitviper

Venom Characteristics: Not well known, but probably mainly hemotoxic (w/ possible cytotoxic factors). Reportedly similar to A. mexicanus in having relatively less potent venom than other pitvipers found in the same areas (e.g., B. asper). Has envenomated humans, but only recently named, and may have been confused w/ similar species previously. No definitely documented human fatalities have been caused by this species so far.

[exotic-venom]

(Atropoides nummifer nummifer) Mexican jumping pitviper

Unlike most vipers, members of this genus will strike and then hold on and chew. In one case, a machete was used to pry off the jaws. March (1929) wrote that A. mexicanus (A. nummifer) will hang on and make half a dozen punctures unless quickly and forcibly removed. However, the effects of the venom include only transient pain and mild swelling. In one part of Honduras the locals even insist that the snake (A. nummifer) is not venomous. Laboratory studies suggest that Atropoides venoms are unlikely to lead to consumption coagulopathy and incoagulable blood in humans. However, other research revealed that of ten different Costa Rican pit viper venoms tested on mice, that of Atropoides picadoi was the most hemorrhagic.

[exotic-venom]

(Atropoides picadoi) Picado's pit viper

Hemotoxic.

[exotic-venom]

(Atropoides olmec) Olmecan pit viper

Primarily hemotoxic. No known antivenom produced.

[exotic-venom]

(Atropoides nummifer mexicanus) Central American jumping pitviper

[exotic-venom]

(Atropoides nummifer mexicanus) Central American jumping pitviper

Habitat: Found mainly in mesic forest, including tropical rainforest, moist, & wet forest; & lower cloud forest; sometimes in pine savannas & rocky outcroppings (includes corozo, coffee, pine & cloud forest life areas). Found at 40-1,600 m elevation from southeastern Mexico to central Panama. 

Activity and Behavior: Terrestrial, mainly nocturnal, but sometimes basks in sun. Typically slow-moving & not aggressive by day. Can only strike for about 1/2 of its body length (despite its common names). This species often holds onto prey after striking (often very tenaciously). When threatened, often holds mouth very wide open as a defensive display. 

Venom Characteristics: Mainly hemotoxic, w/ possible cytotoxic factors. Venom reportedly not as potent as that of other pitvipers in the same areas (e.g., Bothrops asper). Main envenomation symptoms usually local pain & swelling. Although a number of human envenomations by this species occur each year, human fatalities reported to have been due to this species, or closely-related species, have not been well documented.